There's a phrase that I've heard at least 10 times in the past 2 weeks. Whether that be 'heard' in articles, conversations, facebook, or internet columns. It's taken straight from the Good Book and used by Christians, Buddhists, Atheists and every other worldview or faith group I can think of.
It's cropped up in an article I read last week in a national newspaper promoting same sex marriage , in conversations at a recent church convention over worship styles, and in youtube videos discussing a very prominent Pastor's fall from grace due to alleged peadophilic activities. In short, everyone's using it, everyone's loving it.
Everytime someone makes a statement about what they perceive to be another person's wrong doing, there will be one (or several) voices that will cry out 'Judge not, lest ye be judged", or "Only God can judge", or "Christians shouldn't judge".
This sounds good. It is good. When used in the right context and with a proper biblical understanding of what judging is. So let's look at the text.
Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that ye be not judged."
Simple right? Yup..... unless you look at these texts...
John 7:24 "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."
1 Corinthians 6:3 "Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?"
Strange. Either the Bible is blatantly contradicting itself, or there's more to this whole judging thing than an initial cursory glance at Matthew 7:1
Let's look a bit more at this text. The context of this verse is Jesus talking about hypocrisy. Jesus states
"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye".
This is pretty obvious to me. Don't judge someone whilst doing the same thing. Don't condem someone for their sin while behind closed doors participating in the exact same thing. Get yourself right with God so that you are able to judge clearly. The Greek word for clearly is diablepo, meaning to recover full vision. Judge with clarity, don't judge when you are so consumed in sin that it clouds your judgement.
But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?" (Romans 2:1-3).
Now onto John 7:24.We're told to judge, but 'judge righteous judgement'. What does it mean to judge righteously?
The Bible gives us clear guidelines on this. We're told that we are to judge those inside the body of Christ, or those who claim to be Christians, if they persist in unrepentant immorality.
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner -- not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore 'put away from yourselves that wicked person'" (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).
We are told to judge amongst ourselves if those in the body of Christ have a disagreement, instead of going to outside parties to resolve the issue.
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (1 Corinthians 6:1-4).
We're told to tell off or 'admonish' those amongst us who live contrary to the commands that have been given to us by God, (in a loving and Christlike manner)
And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother" (2 Thessalonians 3:14,15).
We are told NOT to judge without knowing whether or not the person has done anything wrong. We're also told that we cannot judge motives, or judge anyone's eternal destiny, as that is in the hands of God.
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts; and then each one's praise will come from God" (1 Corinthians 4:3-5).
We're told NOT to judge on things that don't have a clear 'thus sayeth the Lord' on. (This is usually where the problem lies, as some people think certain issues are clear and others don't)
Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand" (Romans 14:1-4).
Overall, the statement that Christians cannot judge at all, is unbiblical. We are called to judge righteously and in love.
Peace folks x
